Early Diagnosis And Patient Education Vital To Treating Stress Urinary Incontinence

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Women who receive an early diagnosis for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have an opportunity to take preventative measures to reduce their risk for the condition. Once a woman is diagnosed, she should be informed of all treatment options so she can choose the care plan that makes her most comfortable, fits her lifestyle and improves her quality of life. In a two-part article in the June 2008 issue of Urologic Nursing, Lianne F. Herbruck presents an overview of diagnosis and treatment options as well as education and management tools for urologic practitioners.

Treatment options for SUI include such measures as pelvic floor exercises, managing urine leaks with tampons and pads, biofeedback, vaginal cones, pessaries, pharmacologic measures and surgery, says the author. The challenge for urologic nurses, says Herbruck, is recognizing each woman's tolerance level and finding the best treatment option for each patient.

Patient education and support is vital to treatment compliance, says Herbruck. Financial and social costs to women are significant, and the full magnitude of the problem is unknown because many women choose to live with UI. Practitioners should be well educated on risk factors for UI and the most effective treatments for women in early stages of developing UI; the sooner treatment begins, the smaller the risk for more aggressive treatments, such as surgery, later in life.

"Stress Urinary Incontinence: An Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment Options; Stress Urinary Incontinence: Prevention, Management, and Provider Education"
Lianne F. Herbruck, MSN, RN, CNM
Urologic Nursing; June 2008

Urologic Nursing, the official journal of the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA), presents the latest advances in urologic nursing practice. Written by and for urologic nurses and associates, Urologic Nursing features clinical articles covering a wide variety of urologic issues and clinical procedures. Patient education techniques and research findings are also included, as well as articles discussing the ethical issues and trends in this expanding clinical nursing specialty. Published six times a year.

Urologic Nursing